Griffin police officer shot inside patrol car

GRIFFIN, Ga. -- A Griffin police lieutenant was shot in the head as he drove up to a crime scene to help another officer on Wednesday night.

Griffin Police Captain Dwayne Jones said the lieutenant was conscious as he was airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta,and hisinjury is not believed to be life-threatening. The wounded officer's name has not been released.

Another Griffin police officer responded to reports of a man waving a gun outside a home on Circus Street at 10:15 p.m.

According to police, the man came out from behind a tree and began firing at the officer as the shift lieutenant drove up on the scene.

One of the bullets went through the windshield and hit the lieutenant. But that wasn't the end of it.

"The officer who was struck continued driving to get away from the area," Capt. Jones said. "The suspect continuedwalking toward the initial responding officer. He started shooting, once again, at the officer. He re-engaged and returned fire."

The gunman was hit once. He was taken to Atlanta Medical Center for treatment. His name and condition have not been released.

Neighbors said he does not have a history of violence, but he was involved in a domestic dispute.

"It was a dispute between him and his baby's mother over his daughter's visitation rights," said neighbor Rashunde Henley. "He lost it cause he feared he wasn't going to see his daughter anymore. The police came, and it started from there."

Police said the gunman had a semi-automatic handgun, a shoulder holster and 12 rounds of loose ammunition in his pocket.